In August 2013, Roskill Community Voice, a team
contesting the Puketapapa Local Board Election,launched a petition aimed at progressing
the undergrounding of the high voltage electricity transmission and removal of
pylons which blight many areas of Auckland and some other urban areas. This
followed from a discussion document by the national electricity grid operator
Transpower in April 2013 on
undergrounding.

Two identical petitions, one centred on Onehunga led
by Carol Beaumont and the other in Hillsborough and Mt. Roskill led by David
Holm, now a Board Member, received widespread support with a total of 2816
signatures verified. It was presented to Parliament's Commerce Committee in
December 2013 by Phil Goff , M.P. For Mt. Roskill.

The petitions sought a commitment to “undergrounding
high-voltage transmission lines through urban areas over a reasonable period of
time having regard to the resources this entails” using money set aside
from Transpower's annual dividends to meet the long term costs. It also asked
for investigation of technology,
planning requirements and resourcing to achieve cost effective solutions to
undergrounding.

The Commerce Committee conducted hearings into the
petitions in April 2014 and May and June 2015. Transpower responded to the
petition in a letter dated 5 December 2014 which was provided to the
petitioners for a response made in April 2015. The Electricity Authority and
the Commerce Commission also presented
responses to the petitions.

The Committee Report on the petitions was released in
Sepember 2015. The majority stated that “We do not believe that a
Government inquiry could add much more value at this point.” The three Labour members of the Committee
provided a minority report stating that “Transpower and the Government
majority on the committee ignore the overwhelming views expressed by local
people. They do not want transmission lines and pylons over their properties or
to damage sensitive environmental areas like Onehunga and Hillsborough Bays.”

WHERE TO NOW?

The recently opened Onehunga
Foreshore restoration and the tunneling of the WaterviewConnection
shows that concerted public advocacy for environmental restoration can persuade
government infrastructure providers to invest in improvements.

Transpower has ceased using pylons for new projects in
urban areas.There are opportunities to engage with their Environment Manager
and the Transpower Community Care Fund which assists communities affected by
Transpower assets or projects.

The petitions were supported by Chairs of five local
boards and more are sympathetic.

The 2016 local elections offers opportunities to gain
support for undergrounding through pledges from candidates for Mayor, Auckland
Council and local boards.

The new Auckland Council development agency Panuku
Development Auckland is keen on unlocking opportunities in Onehunga
including the port area and may be encouraged to help investigate the benefits
from more efficient land use without pylons.

Please come along and give us your responses to these
suggestions and any other ideas for future actions. You can also reach us by
email at roskillcv@gmail.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roskillcv